Deforestation and degradation of forests in the Khustai nuruu mountains of Northern Mongolia

Deforestation and forest degradation in the forest-steppe zone is one of the most pressing issues in the world, involving territory of southern boreal forests in Northern Mongolia. The changes in forest cover between 1999 and 2016 and driving factors to deforestation and forest degradation in the Khustai nuruu mountains of the Northern Mongolia were analyzed. Forest monitoring was carried out in mature and over-mature flat-leaved birch Betula platyphilla Sukacz. forests with an admixture of aspen Populus tremula L. using the combined method of remote sensing and ground based field measurements. We found an accelerated deforestation trend between 2006 and 2009, which amounted to 463 ha (23.2 %) since deforestation in the Khustai nuruu mountains was started. Overall 17-year forest monitoring revealed that a total of 675 ha of forests were completely converted to non-forest area. As urgent measures to mitigate the effects and limit rapid deforestation in study area, it is recommended to improve the sustainable forest management via establishing optimum head of livestock and wild animals, strengthening prevention and control measures against pests, and reforestation on deforested areas using seedling of native tree species taken from forest nurseries in the region